Rudy Gobert dominated the New York Knicks with a career-high 35 points, but is that a bad thing? Tank for Lonzo Ball.

Losing is the new winning for the New York Knicks. New York is tied with the sixth worse record in the NBA. The Knicks is up and underway for tanking the rest of the season. Jeff Hornacek said he would give more minutes to the young guys and lower some of the starters playing time.

Utah celebrated their 1996–97 team that made it to the finals, and at halftime, the ceremony woke Utah up. The Jazz was down 13 points and fought they way back to win 108-101.

Utah Jazz came into this game on a three-game losing streak but facing the Knicks put a smile on their fans faces. The Knicks lost to the Utah Jazz today 108-101, Utah is one of the top teams in the Western Conference. New York had problems holding Rudy Gobert tonight as he dominated throughout the game. He had a career high in points with 35 points while adding 13 rebounds and four blocks.

Gobert’s 11 offensive rebounds matched Jonas Valanciunas for the season high. For the Knicks Kristaps Porzingis, 24 points gave them all he got tonight but couldn’t get the W for the team.

Jeff Hornacek changed the lineup once again and took Willy Hernangomez as the starting center and inserted Lance Thomas as the power forward and moved Porzingis to the center role. Hornacek forgot that Porzingis isn’t fit yet for the center position now in his career.

Hornacek lineup change helps them get out to a fast start in the first quarter, something that they been missing the whole year. The Knicks got out to a 27–15 start, but the hot started because of the pick N roll offense. At the beginning of the season, Rose said he was more comfortable running the pick and roll offense more often. Hornacek let Rose control the offense, and he found himself with six points and four assists. He ended the game with 17 points and six assists.

New York ended the first quarter up by 8 and continued their good offensive play during the second quarter. They stretched the lead to 13.

Defensively the Knicks were doing their job in the first half, Utah is the slowest team on offense according to team PACE (93.7) stat possibly could have helped New York defense get set in the first half. Utah only shot 43%, but Rudy Gobert kept their team in the game heading into halftime. Gobert destroyed the Knicks frontcourt in rebounds and attacking the rim. He had 17 points on 88 percent shooting with six rebounds. The big men helped Utah cut a 13 point deficit to a 4 point deficit going into the third quarter.

In the second half, Utah and New York was trading baskets for the first five minutes of the quarter. The score was 63–61 with 5:02 seconds left remaining in the quarter when Porzingis picked up his fourth foul.

Porzingis hurt the team all year long by getting in foul trouble, he in first place with him most disqualifications (6) and averaging 3.7 fouls per game. KP had a tough time at the center position because of Gobert and that caused him to leave the game early with four fouls in the third quarter.

New York couldn’t hold their lead as Utah stormed back in the third quarter to take a five-point lead, but the Knicks found their way back in the game with the help of Rose. The former MVP ended the third quarter with 17 points and six assists. The Knicks ended the third quarter winning 75–72.

Earlier today, Hornacek said he’s going to lower the starters minutes, but in the 4th quarter, he put Melo and Rose in the game down 3 points. It’s also clear that New York is not tanking on purpose. Either way, it goes, Rose and Melo was not going to stop Gobert from his outstanding game.

Gobert was out hustling New York on the boards as he stretched the lead out to four points with five minutes to go in the match. After Gobert had calmed down, Utah went to Gordon Hayward down the stretch, and Heyward closed the game for Utah.

Either way, it goes, Rose and Melo was not going to stop Gobert from his outstanding game. The sophomore was out hustling New York on the boards as he stretched the lead out to four points with five minutes to go in the match. After Gobert had calmed down, Utah went to Gordon Heyward down the stretch, and Heyward closed the game for Utah.

Before the fourth quarter, Heyward had five points he ended the night with 19 points and seven rebounds. New York held Utah to under 30 points in each quarter except for the 4th quarter.

Game Notes:

Derrick Rose hurt his ankle in the third quarter and came back in the fourth quarter, However, Hornacek took him back out the game. Rose went to the locker room with three minutes left to go in the fourth.

Rose’s status is unknown for Thursday’s contest versus the Trail Blazers, but the fact that he was limping to the locker room after the game isn’t a good sign.

NYY

NYM

NYG

NYJ

NYK

BKN

NYR

NYI

NJD

SJU

19 Years Old, from Chicago, IL. NBA writer for EliteSportsNY and RealBallInsider. MLB writer for ROBaseball. Sports Writer for The Communicator Newspaper. Co-Host on Sports Show “SportsSanity” blogtalkradio.com/sportssanity